Learn from Paris: Gondola line over Ship Canal

As ST3 construction cost has skyrocketed, Sound Transit is considering truncating the Ballard line at Smith Cove for now. Ballard riders would need to continue on the bus as very few people live around that station.

When Paris faced similar topography challenges to serve the end of line 8 by bus, they built an aerial gondola line instead. Building such line is far cheaper than extending the subway underground a recent short video explains while still providing faster transit times than the bus lines. The gondola line just opened in December and was built by Doppelmayr who constructed and operates many cable-operated systems here in the U.S. as well as around the world.

Instead of stopping at Smith Cove, I suggest continuing to Interbay. But instead of building the tunnel under the Ship Canal, build a gondola line from the Interbay station to a station at Fishermen's Terminal and then across the Ship Canal along 20th Ave W to a station on the corner of NW Market Street.

A Market Street station would be far more central than the station along NW 15th or 14th which Sound Transit currently plans. Such station would provide a high-frequency connection between the Interbay Link station and the many apartment buildings in downtown Ballard.

Once funding would allow extending the Link line under the Ship Canal, the gondola line could be moved elsewhere to serve other transit needs.

Mexico City just approved construction of their 5th gondola line. It will be the longest urban line, almost 10 miles long with a total of 12 stations (including branches).

Cologne already has a Rhine crossing and is considering more such lines.